tushanshu | VIDEO;

Hello everyone. [The girl on the video is in her early teens at most, and at face seems completely unbothered by her surroundings. She supports her chin in both hands, eying the console like she's waiting for an answer.]

Not so bad, for a kidnapping. Never been on this side of one before though - usually they issue terms way before this, and the Emperor seems like the one to ask. Do you think they're aiming for some kind of quota before they tell us what we're here for?

[She sits back from the console and crosses her arms, tapping the fingers of one hand against her crisp shirtsleeve. She's wearing the clothes she arrived in - a suit vest, a white button-up shirt, slacks and a tie, all carefully pressed and clearly tailored to fit.] Either way, probably some or all of us will die, or it wouldn't be a such a secret.

[She leans in again.] Oh! I almost forgot. The army people here - is there anyone willing to spar with me? Anyone with martial training, really. Preferably field experience, black ops, that kind of thing. Being here is no reason to slack, right? [One eyebrow up, waiting for her invisible class to give the wrong answer.]

[A cheerful wink.] If anyone knows a good place for noodles, I'd appreciate it!

[And she signs off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Awfully cheery, aren't you, kid?

There's not much point in being angry at things you can't change.

Really? Sometimes being angry is the only thing you can do, in situations like that.

[In Italian:] Easy for some people to say.

[She shrugs.] Anger isn't sustainable. Better to figure out what you have to work with and try to get out of an unchangeable situation, isn't it?

_{( well, that sounded vaguely european. )}

The two aren't mutually exclusive. Sometimes anger can motivate you, or focus you, and you can get out faster.

Edited 2012-09-02 19:57 (UTC)

[A pause as she remembers exactly what prompted Hilshire to begin her special training, and what that resulted in.]

Yeah. But it can also make you reckless.

I take it you're not fond of reckless.

I can't afford to be reckless.

Understandable. It takes a kinda special precision to be able to be.

I've got precision. [SCOWL. DON'T BE QUESTIONING HER SKILLS CLINT.] It has nothing to do with that.

If you say so.

It doesn't. [Haughty and annoyed.] Why do adults always do that when they don't have anything else to say? 'If you say so! I know you're wrong but I can't give you any good reasons!'

Well, to be honest, I don't know much about your precision. So I couldn't contradict you one way or the other. But I'm not really going to take your word for it, either.

So at the moment, it's "if you say so."

[A small pause, and then a real smile, more genuine than the one in her initial post - honest instead of just well-acted cheerfulness.]

I'd prove it, but I've only got so many bullets.

[A pause, then a thoughtful frown.] Do you know where I could get more?

Around here, that might be tough. Turtle Island hasn't exactly kept up-to-date with weapons technology. At least, not as far as I can tell.

[She stares, the words registering but not really computing at first. For some reason, the simple reality of ammunition not being readily available hits harder than anything else has so far. The surreality of the place has kept reality at a distance, has kept Hilshire just around a corner and the Agency just a codeword away.

She blinks. Once. Twice.

How long has she been staring?] Ah. [She rubs her neck and tries for another smile.] Guess I'll just have to be careful with what I've got until I find a reliable source.

_{( well. that's certainly interesting. )}

There something in particular you think you'll need to shoot, kid?

[That gets him an ironic snort.] Well, most of the time you use bullets to shoot people.

Really.

Mind if I ask who?

[By rote:] It's against regulations for me to say.

[Triela scrubs at the corner of one eye.] Who am I speaking to anyway?

Regulations aren't going to do you much good, here.

...my name's Barton. Clint Barton. Nice to meet you, kid. _{( oh so dryly. )}

[For a second she feels ill. Triela covers her mouth with both hands and tries to keep from throwing up. Hilshire will come for her, the Agency will find her, she just has to stay focused in the mean time. The console blurs slightly.]

Excuse me a sec.

[She makes it to what amounts to the bathroom before puking, the instinct of conditioning clamoring for her to find her handler or an Agency representative right now. She's put out a message. She's put out feelers to see what kind of military presence there is, obvious or otherwise. She's doing the right things. She just needs to stay put and stay calm.

Triela washes her mouth out before going back to the console and switching to audio.]

Triela. [A pause.] Triela Hilshire.

_{( clint observes, but does not comment. just files away the details, the switch to audio. )}

Nice to meet you, Triela. You good with anything other than a gun, or is this going to be a problem for you?

I'm. I'll be fine. A gun isn't everything.

If you say so.

_{( doing that on purpose, yep. )}

VIDEO;

permavoice;

permavideo;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

encrypted 75%, now that she's figured that out

permathat i hate headers have you noticed;

nope not at all;

rawr;

oops I accidentally another one;

die;

in a fire?;

i was thinking more from an ax, actually;

you love me;

nope;

yup;

never;

always;

ne-ver;

allllllwaaaays - also audio;

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooope;

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep;

i will kill you;

empty threats;

none of my threats are empty;

then send your east coast minions. they will retreat in tears;